Huijsen tipped for Ballon d'Or glory by former Bournemouth chief
Tiago Pinto makes bold claim about Real Madrid's struggling defender Dean Huijsen, suggesting he could be the only centre-back capable of winning football's top individual prize.
Former Bournemouth Football Operations President Tiago Pinto has made a stunning prediction about Real Madrid’s summer signing Dean Huijsen, despite the defender’s difficult start at the Bernabéu.
From hero to zero
It’s been a proper mare for young Dean Donny Huijsen since his big-money move to Madrid. The Amsterdam-born defender, who cost Los Blancos a whopping €62.5 million from Juventus this summer, has seen his form nosedive faster than a Premier League club’s stock after relegation.
Things got particularly grim during Madrid’s recent 2-0 victory against Levante, where the Santiago Bernabéu faithful made their feelings crystal clear by whistling the 19-year-old. Not exactly the dream start, is it?
Ballon d’Or potential
Despite the rocky beginnings, Tiago Pinto – who knows Huijsen well from their time together at Roma and later Bournemouth – remains absolutely convinced about the lad’s potential:
“For me, he is the only central defender who can win the Ballon d’Or,” Pinto boldly declared to MARCA.
That’s some statement about a player currently struggling to win over the Madrid supporters, let alone the global football community!
Position switch suggestion
Interestingly, Pinto even reckons Huijsen might flourish in a different position altogether. He’s suggested to Madrid Castilla coach Álvaro Arbeloa that the youngster could excel as a defensive midfielder:
- “If a coach decides to play him as a midfielder, he’ll be one of the best in that position”
- “Iraola would do finishing drills before matches, and Huijsen was one of the best”
- “He has football in his body, he does everything well”
Patience required
Pinto acknowledges that Huijsen needs time to develop at such a massive club. “You can’t expect him to ‘eat up’ Real Madrid in six months,” he explained, urging patience from the demanding Madridistas.
The former Roma and Benfica sporting director prefers to focus on Huijsen’s qualities: his two-footedness, physical presence, goal threat, and “spectacular technique” – all attributes that have convinced Pinto that this centre-half could one day lift football’s most prestigious individual award.
For now though, the bread and butter for Huijsen is simply winning over those whistling fans. The Ballon d’Or chat might have to wait a bit, my son.